A Justice and an Attorney Brawl in Court
A fiery argument over a Snohomish property dispute almost leads to jail time after a lawyer insults a justice.
During the trial of a civil suit before Justice Caldwell yesterday, a dramatic scene took place in which the justice and C. H. Whitlock, the lawyer, were the principal actors. The case of John B. Noll vs. The A. T. Fitting Company was on, with Mr. Gilman for the company and Mr. Whitlock for the plaintiff, suing the company for alleged debt for one month's rent of premises in Snohomish. While the justice was explaining his position, Mr. Whitlock got red in the face and his anger grew. When the justice finished, the attorney exploded, saying, 'Your honor, Mr. Gilman knows better than to seriously maintain that position; he is too smart a man. Any man with a bit of common sense would not seriously maintain such a position!' The justice declared, 'If you talk like that I'll send you to jail. I won't have it!' Whitlock shouted, 'No, sir, you won't! No man can send me to jail.' After some further discussion, the matter was dropped, and the two shook hands good-naturedly.
“No man can send me to jail.”
Courthouse decorum has certainly shifted since 1893, though the frustration between legal counsel and the bench remains a timeless staple of local litigation. While lawyers today might risk sanctions rather than jail time for questioning a judge’s common sense, the raw, public display of professional ego feels like a permanent fixture of civic life.
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